Bicycle evolution and recumbents...

Hello,

I wonder why today's common bicycle is upright rather than recumbent.
To me, the position one sits on a recumbent would be the primary
position one would use in designing this thing called the "bicycle".

But, obviously, the bicycle has taken alot of sideroads on in evolving
into what it is today.

Do any newsgroup readers know about the birth of the recumbent bike?

Cullen